Moncton you are Wonderful! "Be...in this Place"

There have been times while writing on this blog that I've worried. I've worried that I do not represent a place to the calibre that they welcomed us and made a difference in the fight against cancer. Moncton is exactly one of these places. If you are ever looking for some of the friendliest, warmest-hearted people in this country come straight to Moncton, New Brunswick. Today, we officially were welcomed by the city of Moncton.

Realistically, I am going to have an extremely tough time leaving Moncton, as this place is really something special. I arrived at the city limits to be welcomed by a police officer on a motorcycle. Right away, he moved into the opposing lane traffic, and completely created a break in the traffic allowing for me to cross over. Little did I know that I would be met by 15 other cyclists that would ride in with me to City Hall. All of these cyclists shared a passion in wanting to make a difference in the fight against cancer. We traveled through the city of Moncton to be welcomed by two particular familiar faces. Both my father and mother were flown into Moncton by Alantic Lottery and the City of Moncton to be present at the arrival into this great city. I had no clue this was happening and was extremely shocked when this occurred. The utter shock and confusion when I first saw them really took me back...... at this point it had been quite some time since I had seen both of them and it was fairly emotional.

From there, we were greeted by Moncton's Deputy Mayor Merrill Henderson, Ian Fowler, and Atlantic Lottery's Brent Scrimshaw. The City of Moncton generously donated $500.00 and the Atlantic Lottery worked together to raise $2,200 to make a difference in the fight against cancer in the New Brunswick jurisdiction. While this was happening, there was a BBQ, along with many spectacular speeches.

I have to send a huge thank you out to the Scrimshaw's, and Fowler's, and all the volunteers of Atlantic Lottery, and the City of Moncton. You each made this welcome a highlight of my trip and I cannot wait to come back and see you all again.

Later that night, we were given a full on guide of Moncton. We experienced Magnetic Hill (wow... you really do travel uphill!) and a giant lobster, with our wonderful tour guide Amy & Ian Fowler. They were fantastic people and definitely showed us how to eat lobster properly. All in all, this city holds an extremely dear part of my heart as they really know how to make a difference in the fight against cancer!!!!!
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Moncton!

Rain Rain Rain.... yet somehow I continue to smile. Today was filled with series of heavy showers for around 170kms. At one point I felt a constant stream of water flowing off my face (it was quite nice sometimes as it provided a nice drinking fountain). I would look down and watch the water drip off my body and join the puddles on the road. Semis would pass me straying mist all over me, sometimes misting me so much that I was no longer visible. Yet the entire day all I could think was how lucky I am to be inspired by the people I have been. New Bruinswick has been quite the unique province as we have been sent several stories about those affected by this disease, each and every one of them makes me realize how fragile life is and how I need to appreciate every single day I have on the bike rain or shine. 

Today around 110kms into the ride I stopped into the RV just to chat with the team. While we were talking a knock hit the window. We were extremely confused as we were literally in the middle of nowhere. It was a man fully dressed in Military clothing..... initially I was extremely confused but when I went out to greet him, he was the kindest man. His name was Jeff and he had heard about the Chase on the radio and  saw us on his way to where is was stationed and wanted to make a donation. We chatted for a while and he absolutely lifted my spirits and gave me more strength to continue on my way. 

Now we are currently situated just outside of Moncton and will be riding in with members of the community football club to meet with the Deputy Mayor from the Coliseum  starting at 11:15am. I have to send a huge thank you out to the Atlantic Lottery Corporation volunteers for organizing this ride in and the BBQ which will follow. I encourage everyone in the Moncton area to come out to this ride in and make a difference in your community!!!!!!! 

Thank You Lavoie's

The last few days have been absolutely full of headwinds/rain/blown tires and beauty. I woke up in Grand Falls, New Brunswick yesterday to gloomy skies and headwinds. I changed over to my other rim and ate breakfast and was on my way. It was not 10kms before I had blown both my tubes inside the tires and the spare I had replaced it with. I was frustrated with the tire I had put on as it was the same one that blew 6 tubes in Saskatchewan in one day, so I removed the entire rubber and replaced it and was on my way (yet again later than expected).

It was not 20kms after changing my tire I was in a torrential downpour. The shoulders I was riding on were flooded, and I was wet as a dog. Yet, for some reason this is my highlight of my ride yesterday. Maybe because I was in desperate need of a shower and this was the closest I was getting to one.

Yet, as I traveled I kept checking my bike as I was feeling drag. My intial thought was "Oh no, this bike rim is bent, too!" but every time I looked it seemed to be okay. I blew yet another tire so I changed it. In total so far I had traveled 100kms from Grand Falls to a small gas station off Highway #2. It was here I was feeling dog tired and confused.... I really thought my body was breaking down badly and was beginning to worry. I got back on the bike and started moving again when my back tire seized up. I looked, and sure enough it was a bent back tire. Frustrated, I tried adjusting the brakes several times until I gave up and removed my back brakes all together.

This is when the post-storm heat wave swept in. With humidity and scorching hot heat, I was dripping and sweating. I was still hoping to get to Fredericton which was 100kms away. I slogged my way up and down hills, nearly got mauled by three dogs, and traveled through some very interesting countryside on HWY 104.

By the time I had reached Fredericton I was dead exhausted, but I had realized that I had drawn off the Lavoie's, a family who emailed me the night before this crazy day. They encouraged me in so many ways with what Chase the Cure was doing. Yet, I really felt they were an inspirational family to me. They have gone through a lot together when their son was diagnosed with cancer, and forced to loose his right leg above the knee, yet he never backed down. I truly felt what I was going through today was not comparable, in the least, to this. I thought of how courageous this boy is as he is a true hero to me and someone I really do look up to. I cannot thank you enough for contacting me as I truly believe I would not have had it in me to reach my destination due to all the mishaps. Yet, you kept the pedals turning for me and my spirits high.

New Brunswick!!!

The last couple of days, the weather has not cooperated completely. At times, because of the clouds and scenery, it has almost looked like we were traveling through areas of Lord of the Rings.

Yesterday, I traveled toward Riviere Du-Loup in very strong winds and rain (I like to say they were 30km winds... but i really don't know). They were the worst headwinds to-date. It was a struggle, but I drew off the beautiful terrain, and the Budge family who is following my ride from the United States. They have been affected by this disease and I pedaled through with their help. There was one town where there was a bike route right along the St. Lawrence, and the tide had ebbed out and a sail boat was sitting just on the ground. I must say, it is wonderful to be back in the land of tides :). Yet, due to the weather, I was only able to rack off 100kms, which was extremely frustrating.

Today I moved from Riviere Du Loup into Grand Falls, New Brunswick. Prior even to getting back onto the Trans Canada (which, until this point, I was always able to ride on) confusion set in due to a sign not allowing bikers. According to the maps we had, there were no alternative routes..... yet after traveling on it for a while I hopped off and found the 191 which linked up with the Trans Canada later on where you were able to bike.

We traveled out into very little wind today, yet something just didn't seem right all day long on my bike. I couldn't figure it out. I crossed the New Brunswick border (which was 100kms away from my starting point) exhausted.

Here, i had a quick 20-minute nap, and met up with a guy from Scotland who was also riding across from Vancouver to Halifax. He had some extremely funny stories especially of the mosquito bites he had never heard of before his trip. One night he counted 96 bites which he reacted extremely poorly to. He eventually found After Bite, but had an allergic reaction to this. He was a delight to travel with as we talked for a few hours I had forgotten about my problem from earlier.

Finally, after leaving him and continuing on my way, I found out my problem after traveling down a hill. My back wheel completely seized up, and I discovered my brake pads were more worn than normal and the back rim was bent. It turned out the reasoning behind my exhaustion today was a bent back rim which rubbed on my brakes all day. Yet, somehow I still managed to travel 190kms.

I thought I would put a funny sign on here that we saw. A town name was St-Louis-Du-Ha! Ha! (all of that including the "Ha! Ha!" the town name. We took quite the enjoyment out of this after discovering it :)

Goodnight all for now, and let's keep making a difference :)

Alouette welcome

Yesterday night, we were welcomed by the Montreal Alouettes at their home game. I would like to send a special thanks out to Olivier Poulin, Shawn Taylor, Allan, and the Alouettes for inviting us to come and encourage fans of the Als to make a difference in the fight against cancer. Prior to the game we were welcomed onto the field with an introduction to a sell-out crowd at Stade Percival Molson. The Alouettes generously donated a replica autographed helmet which will be auctioned off after the ride to gain more funds for the Quebec jurisdiction.

Prior to this game, I had an interview with Bernard from CBC Radio in Montreal. We went through a regular interview, but in turn there was a little bit of a surprise for me as they had phoned my father earlier that day. He encouraged me to keep riding, and it was extremely nice to get this surprise while on-air.

Today we moved out of Quebec City where the ride was situated and into a town called St. Jean-Port-Joli. Tomorrow, we will land either in Riviere-Du-Loup, or cross the border into New Brunswick. It is extremely beautiful to ride through this countryside, as you always have the St. Lawrence on your left hand side and lush lush fields flowing down towards the St. Lawrence. The cycling is great with 8ft shoulders. Stay tuned as we continue to travel along the St. Lawrence and this gorgeous countryside

QUEBEC CITY!!!!!

Initially leaving Montreal was tough as we had met up with some friends that really sent warm homely feelings through all of us, it was a gorgeous day and we were situated at a beautiful lake! Before we left we were welcomed to Waffles, bacon and fruit it was delicious!!!! 

Initially when I started riding out of the Montreal Area I thought my body was extremely exhausted, yet I started to travel through gorgeous country and felt absolutely rejuvenated. Yet from a cycling standpoint, Quebec has been the friendliest place to cycle. All the way from the boarder to Quebec City I was given the luxury of traveling on a 8ft shoulder next to the gorgeous St. Lawrence river. There is a bunch of great cycling routes throughout Quebec called the Route Verte (The Green Route), these travel from city to city through low traffic backroads through gorgeous country. I managed to get onto one of this on my way to Trois Riviere and again today to Quebec city. All throughout these two days I weaved along the St. Lawrence where I was next to massive cargo boats, sail boats, and through gorgeous farm country, and at one point I was under canopy trees covering the road right next to the road. The entire time I was thinking "Wow what did I do to deserve this!"

What a beautiful city Quebec is! I really believe this is the most historical city we have been to yet. As we traveled through the streets of old Quebec you have a feeling you are in Europe, than you see cobblestone streets, extravagant buildings and Blue Quebec and Red and White Canadian flags everywhere. There are statues everywhere along the cobblestone walkways of many influential figures (Such as Ghandi!!!) 

Horse carriages travel the streets and there are people crowding the streets walking everywhere. 

We are meet up with Michael who is a News Print Reporter in Old Quebec City. We met up at this neat cafe in downtown Quebec and just sat and chatted about everything that has taken place over the last two and half months. He was extremely enjoyable to be around and really conducted a wonderful interview 

Today I was listening to Try hard by the Lytics and a line really stuck out to me. "When I cash my first cheque I am going to give it all back." To give a little bit of background information on this group they are from Winnipeg. While I was there they played at a fundraiser and gave Chase the Cure their first cheque that they had made as a group. I was just thinking how difficult that is to do a band "trying to make it". Most of the times all the funds gained are used to make you bigger. Yet this time the members of the Lytics realized how important it is to give back if we all follow the lead of this young group who play phenomenal music will make tremendous steps in finding a cure to this disease. Click here to check out their tunes 

Tomorrow we will travel back to Montreal via our RV to be welcomed at the Montreal Allouttes home game. We are most definitely excited about this opportunity to associate ourselves with the Alloutes. But for the meantime I will leave you with me being a flower in a flower pot! 

OF MONTREAL!!!!

I have been trying to blog for the last few days but unable to upload some pictures until now!!! We left Ottawa Friday and traveled through the little bit we had left of Ontario. I let the RV go ahead as I knew they needed a break from "RV Living" and to get out and do something enjoyable. I wrote my directions, and headed off, not even thinking about a map.

Well, let me say that my Google directions completely failed me and I ended up doing an extra 50kms of riding and had great difficulty getting out of Ontario. I went back and forth looking for a road from Clarence Creek, to Clarence about 4 times. I must admit, it was a bit frustrating as I couldn't seem to find the road I was looking for. So, I phoned my brother to help me out. As I was calling him I found a Bike Route sign, and followed it. This was a huge mistake also, as it ended up winding me through country roads (both pavement and dirt) with nothing around me (except my dead cell phone). Now I began to look off in the distance and for buildings that might have a phone. I managed to get to one town and called my brother to come meet up with me. From here on, we managed to travel to LaChute which is just on the other side of Quebec!

After arriving in LaChute we decided to take a road that was longer, but what we thought was less busy. Needless to say, this was an uphill battle at the end of the day. We traveled through gorgeous lake country but the problem was, it was a Friday so traffic was a little greater than we expected. That is when we met a man by the name of Brian Potter! This man completed the cross-country trip in 2006. We spent the night talking about our trips and he hit all the desires I had.... shower, hot tub, and delicious food. I cannot thank Michelle and Brian so much for their hospitality!

The next morning, I started the downhill toward St. Jerome which is just outside of Montreal.

We moved into Montreal the following day, which was not far from where we were! We met up with the Cardins who are some fantastic people

Today we will be traveling toward Quebec City!!!!!